have sent my card to
Mrs. Goldsborough after my arrival. I met her at the springs last
summer, and received much politeness from her."

"Mrs. Goldsborough is a very polite woman--very much disposed to be
civil to every one," said Mrs. Smith; "by the bye," she added, "Pelby
and I have it in contemplation to give a large party ourselves."

"Indeed? I thought you were not party-giving people; Cousin Pelby
assured me so."

"And never would be if Pelby Smith had his own way. To be sure, we are
not in circumstances to entertain much, conveniently, but for the sake
of a firmer place in society, I am always willing to strain a point.
As to Pelby, he has so little spirit that he would as soon be at the
bottom of the social ladder as at the top. I can speak of it without
impropriety to you, as you are his relation, not mine. He has been a
perpetual drag and drawback upon me, but, notwithstanding, I have
accomplished a great deal. Five or six years ago we were merely on
speaking terms with the Goldsboroughs, and the Pendletons, and the
Longacres, and the Van Pelts and that set, and now I visit most of
them, and receive invitations to all their general parties. I have
always felt ashamed of not having entertained them in return, and now
I am resolved to do so, as a favorable opportunity offers of doing it
advantageously. I mean the coming out of Julia Goldsborough, Mrs.
Goldsborough's only daughter. It will be something to say that I have
given her a party."

"Do the family expect the compliment of you?" asked Miss Incledon,
looking at her in surprise; "I did not know that you were on such
intimate terms."

Mrs. Smith smiled in conscious superiority. "Ah, Cousin Sabina!" said
she, "you are very unsophisticated. Don't you know that a party goes
off with much more _eclat_ for being associated with some name of
importance. Now Julia Goldsborough, from her beauty and vivacity, and
the fashion and fortune of her family, is to be the belle of the
season, and a party got up for her must necessarily make a sensation.
All her friends, and they are at the head of society, will attend on
her account, if for nothing else, and everybody else will be glad to
go where they do. Then the Pendletons and the Longacres and the Van
Pelts, several of them, will give her parties--so it is
understood--and it will be worth an effort to make mine one of the
series."

A faint expression of sarcastic humor passed over the placid
countenance of Miss I